Francine Ann Alewine

Francine Ann Alewine, of Groesbeck, ended her work in this life on Wednesday, October 7, 2020, at age 82, to enter her eternal home in heaven with her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and her beloved husband and son.   

Visitation will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Monday, October 12, 2020, prior to the funeral service, at Crestview Church of Christ in Waco.

The Funeral service will begin at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, October 12^th, at the Crestview Church of Christ, with Brother Scott Talley officiating.

Graveside services will be conducted Monday, October 12, 2020 at 4 PM at Big Hill Cemetery. 

Ann’s life began in Rice, TX. on August 25, 1938 when she was born to Luther Denton Murff and Bessie Ann (Fitzgerald) Murff.    She grew up in Rice and attended school there until a Junior, and when the school was moved to Corsicana her senior year, she graduated from Corsicana High School.   She then attended business school in Dallas, and went to work for the railroad in Dallas.   

Ann was introduced to Homer Alewine in Dallas by friends.  After a brief courtship, they were united in marriage on April 4, 1959 at her parent’s home in Rice.   They made their home in Dallas, where their son Danny was born.    Homer’s job led them to a new home in Jacksonville, where their daughter Dianne was born.  They moved from Jacksonville to Waco in 1972, and then Homer transferred to Duncanville in 1982.

Ann worked as a librarian in Jacksonville, as a library aid in Waco at Richfield High School, and as a librarian in Red Oak.   When they moved to Big Hill, Ann would substitute at Groesbeck High School.   Homer and Ann were members of the Church of Christ wherever they lived and were actively involved with the church.   While her children were young, she taught Sunday School classes and as they were older went on mission trips with the youth group to Colorado.    They had many enduring friendships everywhere they lived that continued the rest of their lives.   

Ann, tall and perfect posture, always looked like a model.   For years, she made her own clothes and was an expert seamstress making suits to rival those in stores.    Later in years, her daughter Dianne led her on the shopping trail and was always still looking like a model with her fashions and jewelry. 

Early in their marriage, Homer introduced Ann to his homeplace in the Big Hill community outside Groesbeck.   They spent many weekends leaving the city to go to their “2-A” ranch at Big Hill, and after Homer retired, they built their home there on the ranch.  Ann became a vital part of the Big Hill group of ladies who lived or formerly lived there and had a reunion each year.   In recent years, the ladies would gather for “Big Hill” coffee.  She also would not miss the Christmas Eve and Easter gatherings at the Big Hill Church.

Ann was known for her hospitality, her eagerness to meet new people at church and have them in her home for a meal to get acquainted with others.  She held Alewine family reunions and hosted her Murff family members in her home.

Ann’s home was lovely to be in and she made everyone feel welcome.   She hosted overnight Ladies’ Retreats for quite a few years in her home and participated in many others.   She hosted Bible Classes in her home for many years, with ladies who were very dear to her, and taught Wednesday night Ladies’ Bible Classes for many years, putting many hours of Bible study in her preparations. 

Ann and Homer loved to travel, and often were accompanied by their grandsons, Eric and Chance.   The rest of the family got to vacation with them “sometimes.”  She also had great trips with her lady friends and many bus tours.

Ann was a giver.  Her family and friends will cherish the many gifts and remember her fudge and baked goods with which she blessed them.  Her family loved her specialties, poppy seed cake and chicken spaghetti.   Thanksgiving was always special with a big Murff family gathering, when she prepared turkey and dressing and all the sides and wonderful desserts.  Over the years, she and son Danny perfected the dressing recipe.  Everyone brought their containers to take leftovers home.   This was then followed by Christmas Eve with a candlelight meal for the family, with the specialty being steak and shrimp, and where many wonderful memories were created.

She gave of her time as an LMC hospital volunteer and enjoyed her friendship with the other volunteers. She was very dedicated to the mission of the children’s home at Medina and the “Arms of Hope” and brought fund-raising meals to the Church of Christ congregation for both with many hours of labor on her part.   She made trips to Medina to visit the homes and children and encouraged her Sunday School class to sponsor special needs for some of those youth, such as sports equipment, dental work, and college tuitions.    She was also a supporter of the Eastern European Missions raising funds to furnish Bibles in Russia.  In recent years, Ann supported “Our Fathers Children” organization that provides summer camps and retreats for children in the foster care system in the DFW metroplex.

As Ann’s health began to trouble her and in the time of Covid, she stayed at her daughter’s home for an extended period.    There she continued Bible studies, participating in Zoom studies with the Legacy church group in North Richland Hills.  Her faith in the Lord remained strong throughout her times of worry and grief for her family.  Following the loss of her son last month and a serious fall, Ann had been hospitalized for the past few weeks.   She woke up during her last hours of life to tell Dianne her wishes – “that everyone knows God and gets their heart right with God.”   

Ann was preceded in death by her husband, Homer Alewine on March 19, 2008 and her son, Danny Alewine on September 6, 2020.

She is survived by her daughter, Dianne Doughty of North Richland Hills; grandson, Eric and his wife Tarah Doughty of North Richland Hills; great grandson, Carter Doughty of North Richland Hills; daughter-in-law, Karen Alewine of Bryan; grandson, Chance and his wife Shy Alewine of Corpus Christi; and great grandson, Grayson Alewine of Corpus Christi.

In lieu of flowers, donations to honor Ann may be made to Our Fathers Children, (ourfatherschildren.org)  6250 N. E. Loop 820, North Richland Hills, TX  76180 or the Big Hill Cemetery Association, 286 LCR 626, Groesbeck, TX  76642.